NATICK, Mass. (Nov. 17, 2014) -- Wearable technologies may provide U.S.
Soldiers with on-the-move, portable energy and reduce the weight of gear
they carry into combat.
Researchers at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering
Center, or NSRDEC, here, are developing Soldier-borne energy-harvesting
technologies.
During the Maneuver Fires Integration Experiment, or MFIX, a combined,
multi-phase joint training exercise held in September 2014, at Fort
Benning, Georgia, researchers tested prototype energy-harvesting
technology solutions.
"My initial impression is that they fulfill a need for instant power
generation on long-range missions when displaced from traditional
resupply methods," said Sgt. 1st Class Arthur H. Jones, an infantryman
with the Maneuver Center of Excellence who participated in the
demonstration.
A sharp rise in Soldier-worn power capabilities has resulted in a
dramatic increase in the number, variety and weight of batteries carried
by warfighters in the field.
This weight prompted NSRDEC researchers to begin developing and
evaluating small, lightweight, efficient, on-the-move, portable
energy-harvesting and distribution systems that eliminate the need to
carry extra batteries.
Energy harvesting works by capturing small amounts of energy that would
otherwise be lost as heat, light, sound, vibration or movement. It uses
that energy to recharge batteries and provide power for electronic
devices such as a Soldier's communication equipment, sensors, or
battlefield situational displays.
Researchers first demonstrated the concept to Army and government
representatives at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, in April 2014. The
demonstration consisted of experienced Soldiers wearing three
energy-harvesting devices while traversing a four-mile course that
included hard surfaced roads, lightly wooded areas, open fields and
hilly terrain.
The technologies, which included wearable solar panels, backpack and
knee kinetic energy-harvesting devices, are now being tested at MFIX as
ways to reduce the weight and number of batteries Soldiers must carry to
power electronic devices.
Lightning Pack's Rucksack Harvester relies on the weight of the backpack
to produce kinetic energy when the backpack oscillates vertically in
response to the Soldier's walking or running stride. As the backpack is
displaced vertically, a rack attached to the frame spins a pinion that,
in turn, is attached to a miniature power generator. It is capable of
producing 16 to 22 watts while walking, and 22 to 40 watts while
running.
Bionic Power's Knee Harvester collects kinetic energy by recovering the
power generated when walking. The articulating device is attached to
both the upper and lower part of each leg and extracts energy when the
knee is flexed. Through software control, the knee harvester analyzes
the wearer's gait and harvests energy during the phase of the stride
when negative work is being performed. This attests that the Soldier is
exhibiting less metabolic activity descending when compared with
descending without wearing the device.
MC-10's photovoltaic, or PV, Solar Panel Harvester operates by
converting sunlight into electrical energy. The panels, which cover a
Soldier's backpack and helmet, are constructed from thin gallium
arsenide crystals that provide flexibility to the panel's material and
allow it to conform to a Soldier's gear. Under bright sunlight
conditions, with the PV panel facing the sun, the backpack panel is
capable of delivering 10 watts while the helmet cover panels provides
seven watts of electrical power.
At MFIX, NSRDEC researchers collected power-management data and assessed
user feedback from the Soldiers wearing the technologies. Once the
energy-harvesting technologies themselves are validated, the next step
will be to sync with the Integrated Soldier Power Data System as a way
to distribute the energy to a Soldier's electronic devices.
Additionally, "MFIX is looking at new concepts with energy-harvesting
devices and how they fit in a tactical environment," said Noel Soto,
project engineer, Power and Data Management Team of the NSRDEC
Warfighter Directorate.
"MFIX is an important opportunity that allows us to quantify the
energy-harvesting technologies that generate Soldier power on the move,"
said Henry Girolamo, lead, Emerging Concepts and Technologies,
Warfighter Directorate, who has been involved with the effort since
2011. "The MFIX Data collected in the experiment will inform us of the
power harvester efficiency by comparing energy harvester equipped
Soldiers and non-energy harvester equipped Soldiers and states of charge
from the energy harvesters versus discharge from non-energy harvester
equipped Soldiers."
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This article appears in the November/December 2014 issue of Army
Technology Magazine, which focuses on robotics. The magazine is
available as an electronic download, or print publication. The magazine
is an authorized, unofficial publication published under Army Regulation
360-1, for all members of the Department of Defense and the general
public.
The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is part
of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which
has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for
America's Soldiers.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology,
acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection
and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint
military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears
it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
http://www.army.mil/article/138057/Soldiers_of_the_future_will_generate_their_own_power/
By Jeff Sisto, NSRDEC Public Affairs
